Vessel addition apparatus

ABSTRACT

A vessel for receiving molten metal is equipped with an elongated refractory lined rod extending thereinto. An addition agent such as aluminum is formed as a solid body having a central aperture therethrough. The aperture is lined with an inner sleeve made of a material such as steel to retard the dissolution rate of the aluminum in the area of the rod. The sleeve is bonded to the solid body. A plurality of such bodies may be employed in stacked and spaced relationship with the spaces therebetween filled by a second addition agent normally of the granular type. When used in spaced and stacked relationship with a second addition agent, an outer sleeve is employed to retain the components in assembled relationship.

United States Patent [1 1 Rocher Aug. 26, 1975 VESSEL ADDITION APPARATUS[75] Inventor: George Rocher, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Metallurgical Exoproducts Corporation, McKees Rocks, Pa.

[22] Filed: Sept. 12, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 505,466

[52] U.S. Cl. 266/34 T [51] Int. Cl. C21C 7/00 [58] Field of Search75/53-58; 266/34 T [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,809,3805/1974 Rocher ct al 266/34 T Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Webb, Burden, Robinson & Webb [57] ABSTRACT A vessel forreceiving molten metal is equipped with an elongated refractory linedrod extending thereinto. An addition agent such as aluminum is formed asa solid body having a central aperture therethrough. The aperture islined with an inner sleeve made of a material such as steel to retardthe dissolution rate of the aluminum in the area of the rod. The sleeveis bonded to the solid body. A plurality of such bodies may be employedin stacked and spaced relationship with the spaces therebetween filledby a second addition agent normally of the granular type. When used inspaced and stacked relationship with a second addition agent, an outersleeve is employed to retain the components in assembled relationship.

5 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures VESSEL ADDITION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION My invention relates to a vessel addition assembly and, moreparticularly, to a solid aluminum body having a central aperturetherethroughwhich is linedby a metal sleeve. In US. Pat. No. 3,809,380,of which lam a named co-invento r and British Pat. No...997,-566, thereare disclosed cylindrical aluminum bodies having apertures therethroughfor positioning on a refractory lined rod in a ladle to act as adeoxidizer and/or an alloy addition agent for use in the teeming ofsteel. These aluminum bodies are positioned in the ladle before themolten metal is teemed thereinto. The objective is to maximize theefficiency of the aluminum addition by maintaining the addition belowthe bath surface.

While the practices employed heretofore with such aluminum bodies haveproven successful, there still is a tendency for the molten metal toflow between the refractory lined rod and the aluminum body. Thisresults in the rapid dissolution of the aluminum body from both itsinner surfaces and outer surfaces. Since the dissolution is not alwaysuniform along the inner surface, the aluminum body may break away fromthe refractory lined rod before it has completely dissolved and float tothe top of the bath where it loses its effectiveness as an additionagent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION I have now improved the aluminum body additionagent by employing a thin steel sleeve as a lining for the centralaperture and by bonding this sleeve to the aluminum body. Thissubstantially retards the dissolution of the addition assembly from theinner surface thereby preventing the aluminum body from breaking awayfrom the refractory lined rod until the aluminum is substantially alldissolved in the molten bath. By actually bonding the steel liner to thealuminum, I further assure the protection from dissolution of thealuminum body inner surface. My steel lined aluminum body may be used instacked and spaced relationship with an outer sleeve member and withgranular alloy addition agents employed in the spaces between thealuminum bodies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a broken away isometricpartly in section of the lined aluminum body;

FIG. 2 is a broken away isometric partly in section showing a pluralityof aluminum bodies on a refractory lined rod; and

FIG. 3 is a section through the lined aluminum body and mold assemblyduring manufacture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS My vessel addition assemblypertains to any solid addition agent ofa primary material lined with asleeve of another material which has a higher melting point or statedotherwise, a dissolution rate less than that of the primary material.The present most prominent application of my invention is that of analuminum body protected by a thin steel sleeve and my descriptionhereinafter is exemplified by this latter application.

The vessel addition assembly, generally designated 10, comprises a solidaluminum cylindrical body 1 1 having a cylindrical aperture 12 extendingcentrally therethrough along the longitudinal center line of body 11,FIG. 1. A thin steel sleeve 13 lines the central aperture 12 of theblock 11 and is bonded thereto as will be described hereinafter. In turnthe sleeve 13 has a central aperture 14 extending therethrough along itslongitudinal center line.

The assembly 10 is positioned on a refractory lined rod in a vessel suchas a teeming ladle (not shown). The refractory lined rod is normallydisposed substantially vertically into the ladle from a standardgooseneck support which can be connected to the ladle. The assembly 10may also be positioned on the actual stopper rod employed to control theteeming of the ladle. The refractory lined rod normally comprises ametal rod 15 protected bya plurality of refractory sleeves l6 positionedthereabout in end to end relationship, FIG. 2. An enlarged refractorysection 17 is connected to the bottom of the rod 15 to serve as thebottom stop for the addition assembly 10, although other stop means maybe employed. In use, a plurality of the aluminum addition assemblies 10representing the appropriate weight for the desired addition are stackedin end to end relationship about the refractory sleeve 16 on the metalrod 15.

Further addition agents can be employed with the assembly by stackingthe bodies 1 l in spaced relationship and occupying the spacetherebetween with the additional addition agent 19, FIG. 2. Normallythis additional addition agent will be in granular form. In order toretain the granular addition agent 19 in the spaces between the aluminumblocks 11, an outer sleeve 18 is employed. Outer sleeve 18 can be ofthin metal such as steel or can be of cardboard, Normally it will be ofa composition or a thickness which will result in a more rapiddissolution than the inner sleeve 13. The purpose of this is to assurethat the dissolution takes place from the outer surfaces inward. Theretarding of the dissolution of the aluminum closest to the refractorysleeve 16 eliminates the tendency of the blocks 11 to break away andfloat to the top of the molten bath. The outer sleeve 18 need onlyextend between the adjacent aluminum bodies 11. However, the entireassembly may be assembled prior to positioning on the refractory linedrod in which case a single outer sleeve 18 extends the longitudinalextent of the assembly and an inner sleeve 18 forms the inner surface ofthe chamber which accommodates the addition agent 19, FIG. 2.

The steel sleeve 13 is preferably bonded to the aluminum body 11. Thisis accomplished by casting the aluminum body 11 about the sleeve 13. Amold 20 is employed for that purpose, FIG. 3. Mold 20 includes sidewalls 24 which define the outer periphery of the block 11. The sidewalls 24 are formed of two sections pivotably mounted together so as topermit opening of the mold 20 (not shown). The bottom surface 25 of themold 20 is apertured to accommodate a bolt 23 along the longitudinalcenter line thereof. Mounted to the bolt 23 is a bottom plug 22 which isfrustoconically shaped. Positioned over plug 22 is the thin steel sleeve13. The largest diameter of the plug 22 is slightly larger than thecross section of the sleeve 13 so that the sleeve 13 is forced down ontothe plug 22 to prevent molten metal from going into the sleeve centralaperture 14. A top plug 21 is likewise inserted into the open end ofsleeve 13.

Thereafter, the molten aluminum is poured into the mold and permitted tosolidify. The mold 20 is then opened by pivoting the sections of theside walls 24 and the top plug 21 is then removed. The aluminum body isthen stripped from the remainder of the mold. The assembly is thereafterready for use as is or it can be further assembled in spaced and stackedrelationship as illustrated in FIG. 2.

I claim:

1. A vessel addition assembly suitable for installation on a refractorylined rod extending into the vessel comprising a solid addition agent ofa first material having a central aperture therethrough defined by aninner surface and an inner sleeve of a second material having a slowerdissolution rate than the first material positioned within the apertureand in engagement with the surface and adapted to slidably accommodatethe refractory lined rod.

2. The assembly of claim 1 comprising a plurality of said solid agentsstacked in spaced relationship about said rod and separated by a secondaddition agent.

3. The assembly of claim 2 including an outer sleeve for retaining thesecond addition agent in place between the solid addition agent.

4. An aluminum addition assembly suitable for installation on arefractory lined rod extending into a vessel comprising a solid aluminumbody having a central aperture therethrough and a thin steel sleevebonded to said aluminum body so as to line said aperture and adapted toslidably accommodate the refractory lined rod.

5. The assembly of claim 4, said aluminum body being cylindrical andhaving a cylindrical aperture therethrough.

1. A vessel addition assembly suitable for installation on a refractorylined rod extending into the vessel comprising a solid addition agent ofa first material having a central aperture therethrough defined by aninner surface and an inner sleeve of a second material having a slowerdissolution rate than the first material positioned within the apertureand in engagement with the surface and adapted to slidably accommodatethe refractory lined rod.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 comprising aplurality of said solid agents stacked in spaced relationship about saidrod and separated by a second addition agent.
 3. The assembly of claim 2including an outer sleeve for retaining the second addition agent inplace between the solid addition agent.
 4. An aluminum addition assemblysuitable for installation on a refractory lined rod extending into avessel comprising a solid aluminum body having a central aperturetherethrough and a thin steel sleeve bonded to said aluminum body so asto line said aperture and adapted to slidably accommodate the refractorylined rod.
 5. The assembly of claim 4, said aluminum body beingcylindrical and having a cylindrical aperture therethrough.